Vending-machine.



H. S. MILLS.

4.VENDINGf MACHINE. A'PPLI'GA'TION Hmm un. so. 1907.y

Patented Apr. 2o, 1909;

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H. S. MILLS.

ENDING maxim. APPLICATION FILED IAR. 30, 1907. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

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VENDING MACHINE.

ATAPPLIQATIONJEILEVD MAAR. so, 1.907..; Patented' Apr. 20, i909. l vfamme-SHEET a. /0

1m: NoRRIs PETERS co.,-wAsHlNc1oN, u. c.

H. S. MILLS.

VBNDING MACHINE. 4APPLIOATION HLEp'MR. 3o, 1907.

918,'882. Patented Apr.2 o,19o9.

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` C i Cif? H. S. MILLS. l VBNDING MACHINE.

91 l AIIIPLIGATIO FILED MAB. 30, 1907. Patented Apr. 20,

7 SHEETS-.SHEET 'I- PATENT crine.

HERBERT Si MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

vENnING-MAGHINE.

To all whom it may cof/worn:4 o

Be it known that I, HERBERT S. MILLS, a citizen oi'l the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of i Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Vending-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to card vending machines, and myprimary object is to provide a machine of the character indicated ofgreat durability and .certainty of action. y i

The invention is' illustrated inV its preierred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in whichy Figure 1 is a vertical'sectional view,the section being taken just inside ofone of the sides oi the -casing ofthe machine; Fig. 2, a broken lan section taken as indicated at line 2of ig. 1, and illustrating the manner of pivoting-one oi the sides of acoin-chute employed; Fig.y 3, a broken sectional elevational view takenapproximately as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2 and showing the detailsoi the coin-chute employed, the vertically movable slide which servesinthe operation oi' ejecting a card, and ratchet mechanism for insuringcomplete actuation ol' said slide; Fig. 4, a broken rear'elevationalview oi the coin-chute and the locke` ing pawl of said slide, said viewbeing taken at line 4 oi' Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a broken lhorizontal sectionalview taken as indicated Vat line 5 of Fig. 3 and showing the lower por-`tion of the coin-controlled mechanism, and

showing also means 'for retracting a'stop orV serves to relieve thepressureof vthe magazine follower upon the cards during the f periodwhen the outermost, or 'mosti ad- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 30, 1907. Serial No. 365,474.

Patented April 20, 1909.

vanced, card is being moved downwardly over the front face of the packof cards in the operation of separating the rst card from the pack oi'cards; Fig. 9, a broken section taken as indicated at line 9 of Fig. 7and showing a detail ci the rack which serves to actuate the follower,the stirrup for holding said rack, and a pinion which serves to actuatethe rack; Fig. 10, a broken vertical section taken as indicated at line10 of Fig.` 6, this view showing a vertical section through the magazineand showing portions of cards in the magazine; Fig. 11, a view showingone oi the point-equipped arms of a pivotally mounted slide actuatedmember which serves in separating the foremost card from the remainderof the cards in the ejecting operation, this view showing said arm inthe position which it occupies during the ejecting operation, Fig. 12, a

horizontal sectional view taken as indicated at line 12 of Fig. 6, andshowing revoluble winged members which serve, during the operation ofseparating one card from the pack `to throw the previously separatedcard into the discharge chute to permit it to fallupon theabove-mentioned stop, or retainer, upon the retraction oi' which, duringthe upward movement of the slide, the card will fall through thedischarge o ening and be delivered to the purchaser; 13, an enlargedbroken vertical section showing the lower portion of the dischargepassage oi the machine, said view showing that portion of the dischargepassage which is omitted from Fig. 10; Fig. 14, a broken verticalsectional view taken as indicated at line 14 ol' Fig. 7; Fig. 15, a planview, diagrammatic in its nature, illustrating the manner oi' actuatingthe revoluble winged card-ejecting members employed; Fig. 16, a brokenperspective view of one oi said revoluble winged members; Fig. 17, abroken per spective view of one of the slide rods and a cam carriedthereby serving in the actuating of one of said 'revoluble membersduring the descent of the slide; Fig. 1S, a broken front elevationalviewA of a rackequipped slide-bar, a cam carried by said bar, and thelower portion of the swinging side member of the coin-chute which isactuated by saidV cam; and Fig. 19, a broken view-showing one of a pairof friction members which serve to engage slide rods, said pair offriction members being shown in position in Fig. 14.

In the construction illustrated, A represents a casing whose frontA isequipped with a skeleton plate A2 which is adapted to be swung forwardlyabout its lower end with relation to the casing in a manner which willbe hereinafter described and which is provided with a glass plate A3which enables the cards to be viewed B, an internal front metal plate orframe member upon the rear side of the upper portion of which is mounteda card magazine B which is equipped with a follower B2 having arearwardly projecting rack B3 with which meshes a pinion B4 mounted on atransverse shaft B5, 4one end of which is equipped, as shown in Fig. 7,with a drum B1i uponV which winds a cord B7 which is connected with aspring B8 whose lower end is attached to the lower end of the plate B,the tendency of said spring B8 being to actuate the chute B5V and movethe follower B2 fora wardly; C, a vertically disposed slide-bar movablein a guide C with which the plate B is equipped at one lower edge, asshown in Figs. 3 and 5; C2, a coin-chute formed integrally with theguide C and having a movable side member C3 which is supported on apivot C4 at .its upper end, as shown in Fig. 6 a spring connected at itsupper end with a short lateral arm with which the movable side member C3is equipped at its upper end and connected at its lower end with a studprojecting laterally from the lower end of the slide C, whereby thespring C5 performs the double function of maintaining the side member C3yieldingly in its normal vertical posi tion and of maintaining the slideC normally in its elevated position; C6, a locking pawl forthe slide Cwhich is normally held in the locking position by a spring C7, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4 C8, a ratchet bar applied to the front edge of theslide bar C and which coperate with the pawls C2, thus serving to insurecomplete depression of the slide bar C; C10, (Figs. 6 vand 14) a lateralarm projecting inwardly transversely from the upper end of the slidebarC and equipped with stops or bearings C11, C12 which engage aforwardly projecting lug C13 carried by a rock-member C11 which ispivoted in a slide C15, said slide having vertical rods C16 which movein guides C17 with which the frame-member B is equipped; C18, a pair offriction members engaging the rods C16 C12, a pair of vertially disposedrevoluble winged ejecting members actuated by cams C20 projectingrearwardly from the rods C12; C21, a discharge chute located between thelower portions of the plates A and B, said chute having a dischargeopening C22 (Fig. 13); C23, a stop or retainer carried by a shaft C24having a crank C25 adapted to be struck by a forwardly extendingprojection C26 carried by the lower end of the slide bar C, as shown inFig. 3; and D, a slide actuated tensionrelieving device which servesduring the downward travel of the guide C to relieve the pressure uponthe cards during the operation of separating the front card from thepack of cards.

The casing A may be formed in any suitable manner, and any provision(not shown) for access to the interior of the casing may be provided.The front plate A2 is preferably arranged to be swung forwardly aboutits lower end, and for this purpose, it is provided at its lower endwith lugs a which enter sockets (1, with which the plate A is providedon its rear surface, as shown in Fig. 1, and said plate A2 is providedat or near one lateral edge with a rearwardly projecting arm or seetora2 having a slot a" struck about an axis at the lower end of the plateA2, said slot a receiving a screw a1 which secures the arm (1.2 to theinner surface of one side of the casing. Thus, the plate A2 may be swungforwardly, or may be removed, at will, to facilitate aecess to theworking parts. The front of the casing, including the plate A2 may bemade of ornamental members and of any suitable design.

rlhe plate B is formed with an opening b near its upper end, and isequipped with a rearwardly projecting shelf b at the lower edge of saidopening which constitutes the bottom of the card magazine B. Said plateis provided below said opening l) with vertical grooves b2 (Fig. 12)which serve to receive the point of the card-engaging prongs of theejector slide. Said plate B is further provided beneath the level of theopening b and near the lateral edges of the plate (Fig. G) with verticalslots b, in which are located the revoluble members C11', said membersC12 having pivots or journals (f1 at their extremities journaled in lugsr" with which the plate B is equipped. As shown in Fig. 10, the plate Bis provided near its lower end with a forwardly curved portion, orenlargement, b above which is a ledge (17 upon which a card rests afterseparation from the pack. A card rests, after such separation, upon saidledge with an end between two wings of each revoluble member C1", and,upon actuation of said revoluble members, the card is thrown forwardlyand caused to drop upon the, for the time being, projecting stop, orretainer, )23. This willbe understood by reference to Fig. 10. Themagazine is shown supplied with cards b2, and om` of the cards t8 isshown resting upon the ledge t7 and in position to be thrown forwardlyinto the discharge-chute C21 when the revoluble members C12 are actuatedthrough a quarter revolution. The bottom b of the Y.magazine B is shownequipped at its rear shaft B5; and connecting the upper end of thestandards b1 and the plate B are side rods 510. The follower B2 isequipped, as shown in Fig. 7, with perforate ears 611 which slide uponthe rods b1". The rack B11 extends-through a stirrup 612 suspended fromthe shaft B5, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The bottomplate b of themagazineis equipped, .as shown in Fig. 8, with a lug 1113 throughwhichpasses a vertical screw 611 which forms an adjustable support for asliding member which constitutes a partof the tensionrelieving device D.

4As shown in Fig. 12, Vthe main portion of the guide C and the mainportion of the coin-A chute `C2 are formed integrally with each other inthe form of a rearwardly projecting vertically disposed plate whichvisapplied to one lateral edge of the plateB in any suitable manner, as byscrews c. The slide bar C is held in the guide C by means of removablecli s c', as shown in Figs. Sand 7. vSaid sli e bar C is equipped with alateral cam c2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 12; and the lower portion of theswinging side plate C3 of the coin-chute with a forward projection c3which is located in the path of said cam, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby asthe slide bar approaches the lower end of its traverse the swinging sidemember of the `coin-chute is actuated to dislodge any coin which mightotherwiseobstruct the passage. The coinchute is provided at its lowerend, as shown in Fig. 3, with a forwardly and downwardly inclined flangec1, which serves to direct the coin c1 betweenl a flange c and aninclined iiange c7 with which the locking a'wl C6 is equipped,whereby'theslide bar 1 may be unlocked by a coin preparatory toactuating said slide bar. bar C is provided with a notch o8 whichnormally receives the flange or head c2 of the locking pawl C11.ditional spring is provided Vwhich tends to hold the swinging sidemember C3of the coinchute normally in a vertical position. As shown inFig. 3, the front edge of the slide bar C is slotted-or recessed toreceive the ratchet bar C8, which is applied to the slide bar in anysuitable manner. vThe upper end of the slide bar isequipped with aforwardly projecting arm which terminates in a hook or handle 01 whichmoves, as shown in Fig. 1, in slot 011 which is provided in the casingplate A2- Said hook, or handle, is equipped with a plate C12 which moveswith the slide member and forms a closure for the slot C11. Above thecoin-chute c2 is a chute section 013 which serves to direct the coininto the chute C2.

As appears from Fig. 6, I preferably employ two or more pawls C1 whichoperate upon the ratchet bar C11, but this is a matter of minorimportance.`

The arm C1o vextends parallel with Vthe front of the casing, and the lugC13 is located The lower endV of the slidev As shown in Fig. 4, an ad-Vabout the center of the rock-member C11. The details of the connectionbetween the arm C10 and the rock-member C14 are unimportant, so long asa slight rocking motion of the member C14 is permitted. As appearsfromFigs. 6 and 10, I have`shown the arm C10 equipped with a horizontallug C14 which engages a vertical lug 011 with which the rockmember C14is equipped, these lugs tending to prevent the slide bar C from beingturned out of its Vproper plane should any lateral pressure be appliedto the hook or actuating handle 0111. The rock-member C14 is equippedwithl depending arms c1 having extremities C17 adapted to bear upon thefront face of the plate B, and having adjustable points 012 adapted toengage a card, as shown in Fig. 11.- Said adjustable points C12 registerwith the vertical slot b2 in the front face of the. plate B, so that thepoints will not be dulled as the ejector slide moves downwardly. Therock-member C11 is connected by a spring C11 with the slide C15, asshown in Fig. 6. Said rock-member is equipped with a stud c2 whichserves as a stop to prevent the spring C12 from turning the member C14too far. The normal position of the rock-memberV C14 is shown in Fig.10. When the slide C is depressed, force is transmitted through themember C11 and lug C13, thus tilting the rock-member to the positionshown in Fig. 1 1 and causing the points C18 to engage a card.

As illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16, each revoluble member C19 is wingsC21 which are beveled at their upper ends as indicated at 622, and asindicated in Fig. 17, the cams C20 are provided with beveled surfacesC23 which serve to engage the beveled surfaces C22 and rotate the memberC10 when the card-ejecting slide is actuated. As shown in Fig. 14, flatsprings C21 are applied to the rear surface of the plate B and engagethe Wings of the members C19, thus preventing accidental rotation. Asappears from Fig. 14, the friction members C1S comprise spring-held armsequipped Vwithrollers c25 which are located normally beneath the lowerends of the rods C111. When the card-ejector is depressed, the arms areswung to the position indicated in Fig.. 19, the rollers remaining infrictional engagement withthe rods C111.

The rock-shaft C21 is equipped, as shown in Fig. 14, with a spring c2,which tends normally to project the stop C23 into the carddischargechute C21, it being observed that the stop C23 extends through anopening C27 in the plate B. As has been indicated, when the ejectorslide is moved downwardly, the cam C211, shown in Fig. 3, is withdrawnfrom the crank C25, thereby permitting the rockshaft C21 to move underthe action of its slide d equipped with a spring d1 which tends to holdthe slide at the forward end of its traverse; a spring-held pawl d2applied to the slide d; and a ratchet wheel cl3 secured on one end ofthe shaft B5 and adapted to be engaged by the pawl d2 in the rearwardmovement of the slide d. The rear end portion of the slide d is providedwith a slot d4 which re ceives a stud or screw di projecting from one ofthe standards b9. The front portion of the slide d rests upon theadjustable screw el, as shown in Fig. 8; and the front portion of saidslide is equipped with a lateral stud d which normally is located in arecess (Z7 with which the rear edge of the slide-bar C is provided, asshown in F ig. 3. At the upper portion of said recess is a slopingshoulder d8, and above said sloping shoulder is a straight verticalsurface serving as a cam surface, so that when the slide-bar C isdepressed, the stud d will ride upon the sloping shoulder ds and thevertical edge of the bar above said shoulder, thereby forcing the slide(Z rearwardly and actuating the shaft B5, thereby to relieve thepressure of the follower upon the cards. The slide d is inclinedslightly, so that by lowering the adjustable member Z114 upon which itrests, as shown in Fig. 8, a longer throw of the slide is provided for.

Provision is made, as shown in Fig. 3, for the disengagement of theratchet bar CS from the pawl C9 to permit the return of the slide-bar Cto its elevated position. This is accomplished by providing a largeenough notch to enable the pawl to turn with relation to the bar. Thisis an expedient which is common in mechanics.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing detaileddescription. The slide-bar C may be released by dropping a coin throughthe chute-section c13 into the chute C2, thus retracting the lockingpawl C9 and withdrawing it from the notch which it engages at the lowerend of this `slide-bar. Thereupon, the customer, by grasping the handle010 may depress the slide bar C, and through the medium of the arm C10rock the member C14 on its pivot to cause the card-engaging points toengage a card, after which continued pressure will cause the slide C.15to move downwardly with the member C14 and separate a card from thefront face of the pack of cards within the magazine B1. During theinitial portion of the movement of the slide-bar C, thetension-relieving device D is actuated to relieve the pressure upon thecard follower. Once the downward movement of the slide is begun, themovement must be completed before the slide can return to its elevatedposition,

Y owing to the engagement of the pawls C9 of the ratchet bar C8. As theslide nears the lower end of its traverse, the cam C2 engages the lowerend of the swinging side member of the coin-chute C2 and actuates saidside member to dislodge any coin which may become wedged in thecoin-chute. During the initial portion of the downward movement of theslide bar C the cam C2U carried by the lower end of the slide bar iswithdrawn from the crank C2", thereby pern'iitting the shaft C24 to rockunder the action of its spring and project the stop C2. As the slide ebar moves donuiwardly, the slide C moving therewith brings the cams C20into engagement with the revoluble members C1", causing said members tomake a quarter revolution, thereby throwing any card which may beresting upon the ledge [i7 forwardly and permitting the same to fallupon the stop C23. During the return movement of the slide bar C23 thecam C26 again engages the crank C2i and withdraws the stop C2, therebypermitting a card to pass through the discharge chute and be deliveredat the discharge opening The foregoing detailed description has beengiven for clearness of understanding only, and no undue limitation is tobe understood therefrom.

What l regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a vending machine, the combination of a card-magazine, acard-separating slide constructed and arranged to slide the outermostcard from the pack thereof in the magazine, and a pair of revolublemembers constructed and arranged to receive the card so separated fromthe pack and move it to a different plane for delivery into thedischarge chute.

2. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, and apair of revoluble members actuated during the operation of the slide andserving to receive a card at one operation of the machine and deliver itat another operation of the machine.

3. The combination of a card magazine, a cardseparating slide, a pair of.revoluble members having channels for the ends of the cards, and meansactuated with the slide for turning said revoluble members, for thepurpose set forth.

4. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide,cardreceiving and ejecting means serving to receive a card from saidslide at one operation and. ejecting it at another operation of themachine, and a movable stop serving to engage the card after the latteris discharged from said card. receiving and. ej ecting means.

5. The combination of a card magazine, a card-separating slide, a pairof revoluble card receiving and ejeeting members, means moving withsaidv slide for actuating said revoluble members, a movable stop, meansfor projecting said stop during the ejecting movement of said slide,means for operating with said first-named slide, whereby said .followerin one direction, a card-ejecting said revoluble members during theejecting l movement of said slide, and means-for retracting said stopduring the return'movement of said slide.

6. The combination of a card magazine, a card-follower therein, a slidemovable transversely with relation to the direction of movement of saidfollower, and card-separating means, comprising a slide and a rockmembermounted thereon and connectedA rock-member is turned when saidfirst-named slide is actuated and is then moved bodily, for the purposeset forth.

7. The combination of a card magazine, a slide, a rock-member pivotallysupported thereon and equipped with card-engaging means, means forturning said rock-member to cause a card to be engaged and actuatingsaid slide for separating the card so engaged from the others in themagazine.

8. The combination of a card magazine, a slide, a rock-member mounted onsaid slide and equipped with card-engaging points, and a second slideconnected with said rockmember and serving to turn the rock-member andactuate the first-named slide.

9. In a vending machine, the combination of a card magazine, a followertherein, yielding means tending to move said follower in one direction,card-separating means, and means for relieving the pressure of saidfollower for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein, meanstending to move said slide, a device serving to relieve the pressure ofsaid follower u on the cards, and means actuated with said slide for-actuating the pressure-relieving device.

11. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein, a springtending to move said follower in one direction, a card-separating slide,a cam moving with said slide, and a pressure-relieving device actuatedby said cam, for the purpose set forth.

12. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein equipped witha rack, a shaft equipped with apinion meshing withv said rack, a springtending to rotate said shaft in one direction, a card-shifting slide, aratchetwheel applied to said shaft, a pawl co-acting with saidratchet-wheel, and a pawl-actuating member actuated by said slide.

13. The combination of a card magazine, a follower therein equipped witha rack, a shaft equipped with a pinion meshing with said shaft, a springconnected with said shaft and serving to move said follower in onedirection, a ratchet-wheel connected with said shaft, a pawl co-actingwith said ratchetwheel, a slide carrying said pawl, a slide-bar equippedwith a cam serving to actuate said first-named slide, and card-ejectingmeans actuated by said second-named slide.

. a card magazine of which sai 141. The combination of a card magazine,a card-separating slide, cams movable therewith, and revoluble cardreceiving and ejecting members having wings provided with beveledsurfaces adapted for engagement with said cams, for the purpose setforth.

v15. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a plateequipped with a ledge, a slide movable parallel with the face of saidplate and equipped with card-engaging means serving to se arate a cardfrom the pack and deposit tiie same upon said ledge, revoluble cardreceiving and ejecting members, and means actuated by said slide foractuating the said revoluble members, for the purpose set forth.

16. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of avertical plate, a card magazine projecting rearwardly from the upperportion thereof, said plate being provided on its front surface withslots, a slide, a rock-member mounted on said slide and equipped withcard-engaging points registering with said slots, and means for turningsaid rock-member and actuating said slide, for the purpose set forth.

17. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a cardmagazine, a horizontally movable follower therein, a vertically movableslide, a spring normally holding said slide in an elevated position, asecond slide, a rock-member mounted on the second-named slide equippedwith card-engaging means, and means carried by said first-named slidefor actuating said rockmember and moving said second-named slide, forthe purpose set forth.

18. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of avertically disposed plate equipped with a rearwardly rojecting shelf,

d shelf formsv the bottom, a follower for said magazine, a verticallydisposed slide, and cardengaging means actuated by said slide.

19. In a machine of the character set forth, the combination of a cardmagazine, a horizontally movable follower therein, a vertically movableslide, friction members engaging said slide, a rock-member mounted onsaid slide and equi ped with card-engaging means, a second sideconnected with said rock-member, and a spring normally holding saidsecond-named slide in an elevated position.

20. In a machine of the character set forth,

`the combination of a frame provided with a card-discharge passage, amagazine for the cards provided with a follower, a rock-shaft providedwith a stop adapted to move in said passage, a card-ejecting slideoperating to separate a card from the pack thereof in the magazine,means for receiving the card so separated to move it to a differentplane to discharge it into said passage, and means carried by said slidefor actuating said rockshaftV and said card-receiving means, for the lstrueted and arranged to normally purpose set forth.

21. In a maohine of the character set forth, the combination of avertieallydisposed plate having a perforation in the upper portionthereof, a card-magazine equi ped with l a follower adapted to presentear s at said perforation, a rook-member equipped Withl pointed membersfor engaging a eard eon- 1 extend izo l out of engagement with thecards, and means i for turning Said rook-member on its axis and thusmoving it bodily to shift a card from. the pack, for the pur -)ose setforth.

IILRBERT S. MILLS. In presence of J. H. LANDES, Il. A. SCHAEFER.

